1. A lubricant applicator comprising: a cylinder configured to store lubricant including grease, rope oil, or the like; and a roller configured to have at least either of a sheave and a pulley as an application target of the lubricant, the roller being configured to contact with a surface of a rope groove formed on the application target, wherein the roller is configured to rotate accompanying a rotation or a movement of the application target in a state in which the roller has attached to a surface of the roller the lubricant stored in the cylinder and thereby to transfer the lubricant onto the surface of the rope groove, to apply the lubricant on the surface of the rope groove.

2. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape in a vicinity of an outer periphery of the roller viewed when the roller is cut in a radial direction of the roller, matches a cross-sectional shape of the rope groove viewed when the application target is cut in a radial direction of the rope groove.

3. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roller is provided so as to be rotatable in a vicinity of an end portion of the cylinder.

4. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a roller position adjusting mechanism configured to hold the roller so that the roller reciprocates in a direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove, and to restrict a reciprocation distance of the roller. 39

5. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a contact force adjusting mechanism configured: to hold the roller so that the roller reciprocates in a direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove; and to adjust a contact force of the roller against the rope groove.

6. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a pressuring mechanism configured to apply a pressure on the lubricant stored in the cylinder in a direction toward the roller.

7. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a rope groove cleaning mechanism configured to clean the rope groove, the rope groove cleaning mechanism configured to: include an elastic member having an end portion arranged along a circumferential direction in which the rope groove is formed, and clean the rope groove by making the end portion of the elastic member contact with the surface of the rope groove.

8. The lubricant applicator according to claim 7, wherein the rope groove cleaning mechanism further comprises a rocking mechanism configured to follow a rotation or movement of the application target and to rock the elastic member, wherein the elastic member is in: a non-contact state with the surface of the rope groove when the rocking mechanism generates no rock of the rope groove cleaning mechanism; and 40 a contact state with the surface of the rope groove when the rocking mechanism generates a rock of the rope groove cleaning mechanism.

9. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a heating mechanism in either or both of the cylinder and the roller, the heating mechanism configured to heat the lubricant.

10. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a pump configured to send out the lubricant, the roller being disposed away from the cylinder and connected through a tube to the cylinder; and the pump sending out the lubricant from the cylinder through the tube to the roller.

11. An elevator comprising: the lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, configured to have at least one of the sheave and the pulley as the lubricant application target, and be disposed around the rope groove formed on the application target; a wire rope being put around the rope groove; and a cage configured to be raised and lowered accompanying a rotation of the sheave.

12. A maintenance method of an elevator comprising a step of using the lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10 configured to have at least one of the sheave and the pulley as the application target of the lubricant, to apply the lubricant on the wire rope being put around the rope groove through a medium of the rope groove, thereby applying the lubricant on the surface of the rope groove formed on the application target of the lubricant.

LUBRICANT APPLICATOR, ELEVATOR HAVING THE SAME, AND ELEVATOR
MAINTENANCE METHOD USING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]
The present invention relates to a lubricant applicator, an elevator having the
lubricant applicator, and an elevator maintenance method using the lubricant
applicator.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In recent years, most of elevators have been a traction type elevator. The traction
type elevator is generally configured to have a hoist placed at an upper side of an
elevator shaft, a wire rope put around a sheave of the hoist, a cage disposed at one
side of the wire rope, and a counterweight disposed at the other side of the wire rope
to take a balance of weight. The traction type elevator rotates the sheave using the
hoist in order to raise and lower the cage by a frictional force (traction) generated
between the sheave and the wire rope.
[0003]
The wire rope used for the elevator is generally prescribed in JIS G 3525, and
lubricant, which is made from rope oil or grease that is made by half solidifying the
rope oil, is applied (including impregnation) on a surface of the wire rope in order to
suppress: the traction from increasing; the wire rope and the sheave from abrading;
and peripheral members from being rusted.
[0004]
The lubricant forms an oil film on a contact surface of the wire rope with the
sheave while the elevator is running. Thereby, the elevator is able to prevent the wire
rope and the sheave from contacting directly with each other to suppress the wire
3
rope and the sheave from abrading, and to transmit power from the sheave through
the oil film to the wire rope.
[0005]
The lubricant applied on the surface of the wire rope is consumed due to its
attaching on the surface of the sheave and pulley accompanying the running of the
elevator, a loss due to sliding between the wire ropes, and a gradual evaporation
along time.
[0006]
When the lubricant applied on the surface of the wire rope is reduced, a thickness
of the oil film formed on the contact surface of the wire rope with the sheave becomes
so small that the abrasion of the wire rope and the sheave on the contact surface is
increased; and further, that the traction is decreased resulting in an increasing
possibility of an occurrence of a brake trouble in the cage. Therefore, the lubricant
needs to be regularly applied on the surface of the wire rope to be replenished by
maintenance.
[0007]
The contact surface of the wire rope with the sheave changes accompanying the
running of the elevator, and therefore, the consumption of the lubricant applied on
the surface of the wire rope is not even in a longitudinal direction of the wire rope.
And, usually, the elevator uses a plurality of wire ropes, and the consumption of the
lubricant at each wire rope is not even. Therefore, it is technically difficult to apply a
necessary and sufficient thickness (a predetermined thickness) of lubricant on the
surface of each wire rope. Thus, in the current maintenance, replacing the entire wire
rope is generally conducted every predetermined running time of the elevator.
[0008]
As a technique of applying lubricant on the surface of the wire rope, a proposal is
made of using a lubricant applicator that is movable on the wire rope to inject the
4
lubricant from the lubricant applicator on the surface of the wire rope while moving
the lubricant applicator (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).
Alternatively, as another technique of applying the lubricant on the surface of the
wire rope, a proposal is made of placing an oil-supply material capable of retaining oil
directly under the sheave and making the oil-supply material that is impregnated
with the lubricant contact with an outer circumferential surface of the sheave (refer
to, for example, Patent Document 2).
[Related art]
[Patent Document]
[0009]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-80175
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-136331
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[Object of the Invention]
[0010]
However, the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter,
referred to as "the first conventional art") and the conventional technique disclosed in
Patent Document 2 (hereinafter, referred to as "the second conventional art") have a
problem that the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope is not able to be kept
thicker than a predetermined thickness for a long time, as described below.
[0011]
For example, in order to inject the lubricant as disclosed in the first conventional
art, or to make the oil-supply member impregnated with the lubricant contact with
the outer peripheral surface of the sheave as disclosed in the second conventional art,
it is needed to lower a viscosity of rope oil used for the lubricant or to increase a
consistency of grease used for the lubricant. In this case, however, adhesion property
of the lubricant to the wire rope and the sheave is lowered, and thus, the running of
5
the elevator may possibly scatter the lubricant in a short time. Therefore, the first
and second conventional arts are unable to keep the oil film formed on the surface of
the wire rope thicker than the predetermined thickness for a long time.
[0012]
On the other hand, for example, when increasing the viscosity of the rope oil used
as the lubricant, or, lowering the consistency of the grease used as the lubricant,
adhesion of the lubricant to the wire rope and the sheave is increased. This increased
adhesion may prevent immediate scattering of the lubricant caused by the running of
the elevator. However, in this case it is difficult to inject the lubricant in the first
conventional art, and to make the oil-supply material impregnated with the lubricant
contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheave in the second conventional art;
and therefore, the first conventional art and the second conventional art are also
unable to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long time.
[0013]
Because such techniques as the first and second conventional arts are unable to
keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long time, the wire rope is so easily abraded as to
shorten a replacement cycle of the wire rope and to cause an increased maintenance
cost of the elevator.
[0014]
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems described
above, mainly to provide a lubricant applicator capable of keeping the oil film formed
on the surface of the wire rope in an appropriate state, an elevator having the
lubricant applicator, and a method of maintaining the elevator using the same
lubricant applicator.
[Means to solve the problem]
6
[0015]
To achieve the above-described object, the present invention presents a lubricant
applicator including:
a cylinder configured to store lubricant including grease, rope oil, or the like; and
a roller configured to have at least either of a sheave and a pulley as an
application target of the lubricant, the roller being configured to contact with a
surface of a rope groove formed on the application target, wherein
the roller is configured to rotate accompanying a rotation or a movement of the
application target in a state in which the roller has the lubricant stored in the
cylinder attached to a surface of the roller itself and to transfer the lubricant onto the
surface of the rope groove, and thereby to apply the lubricant on the surface of the
rope groove.
Other features of the present invention to solve the problem are described below.
[Effect of the Invention]
[0016]
According to the present invention, the oil film formed on the surface of the wire
rope is able to be maintained in an appropriate state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an elevator according to embodiment 1.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheave used in the embodiment 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant applicator according to the
embodiment 1, viewed in the same front side as FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the lubricant applicator according to
the embodiment 1, viewed in the same lateral side as FIG. 2.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic configuration diagrams of a lubricant applicator
according to an embodiment 2.
7
FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagram of main parts of the lubricant applicator according to
the embodiment 2.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant applicator according to
embodiment 3.
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant applicator according to
embodiment 4.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an elevator provided with the lubricant applicator
according to the embodiment 4.
FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant applicator according to
embodiment 5.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic configuration diagrams of a lubricant applicator
according to embodiment 6.
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant applicator according to
embodiment 7.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic configuration diagrams of a lubricant applicator
according to embodiment 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018]
Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention are
described in detail. Note that each drawing is illustrated only schematically and
concisely enough to understand the present invention well. Accordingly, the present
invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In each figure, common or similar
components are given the same reference signs, and their doubled explanations are
omitted.
[0019]
In addition, the above-described first conventional art (the conventional art
described in Patent Document 1) has another problem that a member included in the
8
first conventional art contacts directly with the wire rope may cause its sliding with
the wire rope and acceleration of abrasion of the wire rope. To solve this problem, the
present invention has another object to provide a lubricant applicator that has no
member contacting directly with the wire rope is able to suppress the abrasion of the
wire rope, as in, for example, a lubricant applicator M1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0020]

Now, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description is made of a configuration of an
elevator E1 according to the embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the
elevator E1 according to the embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration
diagram of a sheave 3 used in the embodiment 1. Here, the description is made on an
assumption that the elevator E1 is a traction type elevator.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator E1 according to embodiment 1 includes a cage 1,
a counterweight 2, the sheave 3, a wire rope 4, a plurality of pulleys (under-cage
pulleys 5, top pulleys 6, and a counterweight pulley 7), an elevator shaft 8, and a hoist
19.
[0022]
The cage 1 is a container to transport people, goods, and the like.
The counterweight 2 is a weight to take a balance with the cage 1.
The sheave 3 is a member to drive the wire rope 4.
The wire rope 4 is a member to suspend the cage 1.
The under-cage pulley 5 is a pulley arranged under the cage 1.
The top pulley 6 is a pulley arranged at a top of the elevator shaft 8.
The counterweight pulley 7 is a pulley arranged above the counterweight 2.
The elevator shaft 8 is a passage in which the cage 1 is raised and lowered.
9
The hoist 19 is a drive source for rotating the sheave 3.
[0023]
The sheave 3 is, as shown in FIG. 2, connected to the hoist 19. On the
peripheral surface of the sheave 3 is formed a plurality of rope grooves 13 around
which the wire rope 4 is put around. The illustrated example shows the sheave 3
having four rope grooves 13 formed. Therefore, the sheave 3 of the embodiment 1 may
hold four wire ropes 4. Similarly, the under-cage pulley 5, the top pulley 6, and the
counterweight pulley 7 are described on an assumption that each pulley has the four
rope grooves 13 formed.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 1, both ends of the wire rope 4 are fixed to the top of the elevator
shaft 8. Further, a central portion of the wire rope 4 is put around the rope groove 13
of the sheave 3. The elevator E1 is configured to have the sheave 3 interposed
between the cage 1 and the counterweight 2 and to have the cage 1 disposed at one
side of the wire rope 4 and the counterweight 2 disposed at the other side of the wire
rope 4 to take a balance of weight. The wire rope 4 holds the cage 1 through the
under-cage pulleys 5 so that the cage 1 is able to be raised and lowered, and the
counterweight 2 through the counterweight pulley 7 so that the counterweight 2 is
able to be raised and lowered. The middle portion of the wire rope 4 between the cage
1 and the sheave 3 is stretched by one of the top pulleys 6. Similarly, the middle
portion of the wire rope 4 between the sheave 3 and the counterweight 2 is stretched
by the other top pulley 6.
[0025]
Therefore, the wire rope 4 is adapted to have both ends fixed at the top of the
elevator shaft 8, and also to be engaged with the sheave 3 connected to the hoist 19,
the under-cage pulleys 5 disposed under the cage 1, the two top pulleys 6 disposed at
the top of the elevator shaft 8, and the counterweight pulley 7 disposed above the
counterweight 2.
[0026]
10
The illustrated example shows two under-cage pulleys 5 and two top pulleys 6.
However, the numbers of the under-cage pulleys 5 and the top pulleys 6 may not be
limited to two.
And, a difference between a tension applied on the wire rope 4 by the cage 1 and
a tension applied on the wire rope 4 by the counterweight 2 balances with a sum of
frictional forces generated between the wire rope 4 and each of the sheave 3 and the
pulleys 5, 6, and 7 (i.e., a sum of frictional forces generated between: the wire rope 4
and the sheave 3; the wire rope 4 and the two under-cage pulleys 5; the wire rope 4
and the two top pulleys 6; and the wire rope 4 and the counterweight pulley 7).
[0027]
The elevator E1 drives and rotates the sheave 3 using the hoist 19 to slide the
wire ropes 4 with the rope grooves 13 of the sheave 3, around which the wire ropes 4
is put, in a direction of an arrow A1 using a frictional force generated between the
sheave 3 and the wire ropes 4. Thereby, the elevator E1 raises and lowers the cage 1.
A contact pressure between the sheave 3 and the wire rope 4 is in a range of several
giga-Pascals.
[0028]
The wire rope 4 is configured to be formed by twisting a plurality of steel wire
strands (not illustrated), each of which is formed by twisting a plurality of steel wires,
around a core rope made of synthetic or natural fibers.
[0029]
The surface of the wire rope 4 has rope oil or grease made from half solidified rope
oil applied (including impregnation) thereon as lubricant, in order to suppress the
steel wires from rubbing against each other and from abrading, and to form the oil
film between the wire rope 4 and the sheave 3.
[0030]
11
The lubricant applied on the surface of the wire rope 4 is lost due to its
attachment to the surfaces of the sheave 3 and the pulleys 5, 6, and 7 accompanying
the running of the elevator E1, consumption caused by the sliding of the wire rope 4,
slight gradual evaporation with time, and the like.
[0031]
Reduction of the lubricant applied on the surface of the wire rope 4 makes a
thickness of the oil film formed on the contact surface of the wire rope 4 with the
sheave 3 so insufficient as to increase the abrasion of the wire rope 4 and the sheave 3
at the contact surface and to decrease the traction resulting in a increasing possibility
of an occurrence of a brake trouble in the cage 1. Therefore, the thickness of the oil
film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 is preferably kept larger than or equal to
a necessary and sufficient thickness (a predetermined thickness) for a long period of
time.
[0032]
Accordingly, in the present embodiment 1, the elevator E1 is provided with a
lubricant applicator M1 so that the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 is
able to be kept larger than or equal to the predetermined thickness for a long period
of time.
[0033]
The lubricant applicator M1 is a device whose application target of the lubricant
10 (refer to FIG. 3) is at least one of the sheave 3 and the pulleys that are members
contacting with the wire rope 4 (in the illustrated example, the under-cage pulleys 5,
the top pulleys 6, and the counterweight pulley 7), and which device applies the
lubricant 10 on the surface of the rope groove 13 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3) formed on
the application target.
[0034]
12
The lubricant applicator M1 is disposed around a portion, of the application target,
other than the contact surface thereof with the wire rope 4. The lubricant applicator
M1 is, for example, fixed on a floor inside the elevator shaft 8 by a support member.
[0035]
It should be noted that the sheave 3 gives the greatest load to the wire rope 4
among the sheave 3 and pulleys 5, 6, and 7 that are in contact with the wire rope 4,
and therefore, the lubricant applicator M1 may be preferably disposed around the
sheave 3. Here is given a description on an assumption that the application target is
the sheave 3.
[0036]

Now, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, description is made of a configuration of the
lubricant applicator M1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively schematic configuration
diagrams of the lubricant applicator M1. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the lubricant
applicator M1 when viewed from the front, and FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the
lubricant applicator M1 when viewed from the lateral side.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 3, the lubricant applicator M1 includes a cylinder 9, a roller 12,
and an outer lid 16.
The cylinder 9 is a container adapted to store the lubricant 10 made from grease,
rope oil, or the like.
The roller 12 is a rotary member adapted to be in contact with the surface of the
rope groove 13 formed on the application target (in this example, sheave 3).
The outer lid 16 is a member adapted to seal the top of the cylinder 9.
[0038]
The cylinder 9 is preferably configured to allow the remaining amount of its
content, the lubricant 10, to be visually checked. Therefore, the cylinder 9 is
13
preferably transparent partially or wholly. It should be appreciated that the partially
transparent structure of the cylinder 9 may be achieved by using, for example, a
metal material such as a steel material for a housing of the cylinder 9 and providing a
glass window in a part of the housing.
For the material of the cylinder 9, cross-linked polystyrene, polycarbonate, or the
like may be used. However, the cylinder 9 is needed to be appropriately selected
considering oil resistance and a type of the lubricant 10 actually used.
[0039]
The type of the lubricant 10 is not particularly limited. Basically, well-known
grease and rope oil may be used for the lubricant 10, but, the lubricant 10 is required
to be of high traction coefficient because the lubricant 10 is used for the wire rope 4.
In particular, the lubricant 10 with a preferred range of traction coefficient is grease
with its consistency of 200 or more, or rope oil with its viscosity in a range of 100 to
600 mm2/s. To meet such demands, the lubricant 10 is preferably, for example, a
combination of naphthenic mineral oil and paraffin wax, a combination of
polyisobutene oil and paraffin wax, and the like. Here, a description is made on the
assumption that the cylinder 9 stores the grease as the lubricant 10.
[0040]
Although the lubricant applicator M1 has no power source, the lubricant
applicator M1 is configured to have the roller 12 rotated by a frictional force (traction)
transmitted through the oil film formed between the rope groove 13 and the roller 12,
accompanying a rotation of the application target (here, the sheave 3).
[0041]
The roller 12 is held by a rotary shaft 11 in the vicinity of an end portion of the
cylinder 9 to be rotatable around a single axis without rattling. The roller 12 rotates
following a rotation or movement of the application target (here, the sheave 3) in a
state in which a part of the lubricant 10 stored in the cylinder 9 is attached on a
14
surface of the roller 12. An arrow A2 in FIG. 3 indicates a rotation direction of the
application target, and the arrow A3 in FIG. 3 indicates a rotation direction of the
roller 12. The roller 12 transfers the lubricant 10 onto the surface of the rope
groove13 by rotation, and thereby the lubricant applicator M1 applies the lubricant
10 on the surface of the rope groove 13.
[0042]
An application amount of the lubricant 10 is able to be arbitrarily determined by
adjusting a gap between the cylinder 9 and the roller 12. As the gap becomes larger,
the larger the application amount of the lubricant 10 per one rotation of the roller 12.
[0043]
The roller 12 is preferably made of a material having a hardness or an abrasion
resistance in the same range as the surface of the rope groove 13 in order to suppress
the abrasion of the roller 12 itself and the rope groove 13 caused by a contact of the
roller 12 with the rope groove 13. Therefore, the material of the roller 12 is selected in
consideration of the material of the sheave 3 and the pulleys 5, 6, and 7. The specific
material of the roller 12 is preferably a material used for the sheave 3 and the pulleys
5, 6, and 7.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional shape in the vicinity of an outer periphery of
the roller 12 viewed when the roller 12 is cut in a radial direction of the roller 12,
matches a cross-sectional shape of the rope groove 13 viewed when the application
target (here, the sheave 3) is cut in its radial direction. That is, the cross-sectional
shape at the vicinity of the outer periphery of the roller 12 is designed to mesh with
the cross-sectional shape of the rope grooves 13. This allows the roller 12 to cover the
surface of the rope groove 13 without a gap, and therefore, the lubricant 10 is able to
be applied 均一にon the entire surface of the rope groove 13. In this case, the
15
thickness of the oil film formed on the surface of the rope groove 13 is, for example, in
a range from hundreds nanometers to hundreds micrometers.
[0045]
It should be noted that, although not shown, an internal cross-sectional shape
near an end portion of the cylinder 9 when cutting the cylinder 9 along its extending
direction coincides with the cross-sectional shape of a portion of the roller 12 in the
vicinity of the outer periphery of the roller 12. That is, the internal cross-sectional
shape near the end portion of the cylinder 9 is designed to mesh with the
cross-sectional shape of a portion of the roller 12 in the vicinity of the outer periphery
of the roller 12.
[0046]
Further, a plurality of the lubricant applicators M1 may be used in combination
with each other in accordance with the number of the rope grooves 13 formed on the
application target (here, the sheave 3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4,
the elevator E1 is configured to have four lubricant applicators M1 arranged in
accordance with the four rope grooves 13, and the top of the cylinder 9 of each
lubricant applicator M1 is secured by a support member 14. This configuration allows
the elevator E1 to apply the lubricant 10 on the surfaces of all the rope grooves 13.
[0047]
In the present embodiment 1, the upper portion of the cylinder 9 protrudes above
the support member 14. Therefore, the cylinder 9 is able to be easily supplied with the
lubricant 10 therein by removing the outer lid 16.
[0048]
In addition, the roller 12 of the present embodiment 1 is fixed by the rotary shaft
11. However, the roller 12 may have a fixing configuration such as a ball caster that
may adjust the application amount of the lubricant by gap control between a housing
and a rotor.
16
[0049]
The lubricant applicator M1 is different in the points described below, when
compared with the first conventional art (conventional art described in the patent
literature 1) and the second conventional art (conventional art described in the patent
literature 2) described above. That is, the first and second conventional arts have no
roller that rotates accompanying the rotation of the sheave, and thus, no
configuration to apply the lubricant on the surface of the rope groove with a roller. In
contrast, the lubricant applicator M1 has the roller 12 that rotates accompanying the
rotation of the sheave 3, and is configured to apply the lubricant on the surface of the
rope groove 13 with the roller 12.
[0050]
The above-mentioned lubricant applicator M1 includes: the cylinder 9 adapted to
store the lubricant 10 made from grease, rope oil, or the like to be applied to at least
one of the sheave 3 and the pulleys (in the illustrated example, the under-cage pulleys
5, the top pulleys 6, the counterweight pulley 7) each as the lubricant application
target; and a roller 12 adapted to contact with the surface of the rope groove 13
formed on the lubricant application target.
In another aspect, an elevator E1 is configured to include the lubricant applicator
M1 that is disposed around the rope groove 13 formed on the application target, the
wire rope 4 put around the rope groove 13, the cage 1 being raised and lowered
accompanying the rotation of the sheave 3.
In yet another aspect, a maintenance method of the elevator E1 is configured to
include a step of applying the lubricant 10 on the wire rope 4 put around the rope
groove 13 through the medium of the rope groove 13, by applying the lubricant 10 on
the surface of the rope groove 13 formed on the application target using the lubricant
applicator M1.
[0051]
17
In the above-described configuration, the roller 12 of the lubricant applicator M1
rotates accompanying the rotation or movement of the application target (here, the
sheave 3) in a state of having the lubricant 10 attached on the surface of the roller 12
to transfer the lubricant 10 that is consumed along with the running of the elevator
E1 onto the surface of the rope groove 13 that is a contact portion of the sheave 3 with
the wire rope 4. The wire rope 4 slides with the surface of the rope groove 13 every
time the application target rotates, and at this time the lubricant 10 applied on the
surface of the rope groove 13 adheres to the surface of the wire rope 4. Thereby, the
lubricant applicator M1 may continuously replenish the lubricant 10 on the surface of
the wire rope 4 through the medium of the rope groove 13 without a direct contact
with the wire rope 4, every time the application target rotates.
[0052]
The above-mentioned lubricant applicator M1 is able to use the lubricant 10
whose adhesion ability to the application target is well-secured without lowering the
viscosity of the rope oil used as the lubricant 10 or without making higher the
consistency of the grease used for the lubricant 10. Therefore, the lubricant applicator
M1 is able to continually replenish the lubricant 10 (for example, grease with
preferable consistency or rope oil with preferable viscosity) on the surface of the wire
rope 4. Consequently, the lubricant applicator M1 keeps the oil film formed on the
surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than a predetermined thickness (maintain it in an
appropriate state) for a long period of time.
[0053]
Such lubricant applicator M1 allows reducing the abrasion of the wire rope 4, and
prolonging the replacement cycle of the wire rope 4 as well, which consequently
enables the lubricant applicator M1 to reduce the maintenance cost of the elevator E1.
Moreover, the lubricant applicator M1 is able to prevent scattering of the lubricant 10
accompanying the running of the elevator E1.
18
[0054]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1 according to the present
embodiment 1 is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4
thicker than a predefined thickness for a long time.
[0055]

The embodiment 2 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1a
having a roller position adjusting mechanism M2 for adjusting a position of the roller
12 in a direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove 13.
[0056]
Now, referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, a description is made of a configuration of
the lubricant applicator M1a according to the present embodiment 2. FIGS. 5A, 5B
are schematic configuration diagrams of the lubricant applicator M1a. FIG. 5A shows
the configuration of the lubricant applicator M1a viewed from its front side, FIG. 5B
shows a configuration of the lubricant applicator M1a viewed from its lateral side.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagram of main parts of the lubricant applicator M1a, and
shows an enlarged view of a configuration of the roller position adjusting
mechanismM2.
[0057]
As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, the lubricant applicator M1a according to the
present embodiment 2 is found to be different from the lubricant applicator M1 (see
FIGS. 3 and 4) in that the lubricant applicator M1a has the roller position adjusting
mechanism M2.
[0058]
The roller position adjusting mechanism M2 is a mechanism for adjusting the
position of the roller 12 in the direction of getting closer and farther away with
respect to the rope groove 13 (the direction of an arrow A4 in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6).
19
The roller position adjusting mechanism M2 in the present embodiment 2 includes an
elongated hole 21 and an impelling member 22.
The elongated hole 21 is a shaft hole into which the rotary shaft 11 is inserted,
and formed so as to extend in the direction of the rope groove 13.
The impelling member 22 is a member adapted to impel the rotary shaft 11 in the
direction of the rope groove 13.
[0059]
Here is given a description on the assumption that the impelling member 22 is
formed as a coil spring. The impelling member 22 is disposed in a compressed state,
for example, in an inner side of a groove (not shown) formed in the cylinder 9. The
impelling member 22 is disposed so that one end portion (upper end in the illustrated
example) abuts against a wall surface of the groove and the other end portion (lower
end in the illustrated example) abuts against the rotary shaft 11 of the roller 12.
[0060]
The roller position adjusting mechanism M2 is configured to hold the roller 12
using the impelling member 22 so that the roller 12 may reciprocate in the direction
of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove 13, and to restrict a
reciprocation distance of the roller 12 using the elongated hole 21.
[0061]
The roller position adjusting mechanism M2 may perform an action of impelling
the roller 12 inward the cylinder 9 (upward direction in FIGS. 5A and 5B) or toward
the rope groove 13, i.e., outward from the cylinder 9 (downward direction in FIGS. 5A
and 5B) by regulating a force for pressing the roller 12 onto the rope groove 13.
[0062]
The impelling force may be adjusted, for example, by inserting a spacer (not
shown): between the one end of the impelling member 22 (the upper end in the
illustrated example) and the groove (not shown) formed in the cylinder 9; or between
20
the other end portion of the impelling member 22 (the lower end in the illustrated
example) and the rotary shaft 11 of the roller 12, by replacing the spacer with another
one having a different thickness; or by removing the spacer, on the basis of the
running condition. Alternatively, the impelling force may also be adjusted, for
example, by replacing on the basis of the running condition, the impelling member 22
itself with another one that has a different strength.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 6, the inside of the cylinder 9 in the vicinity of the roller 12 is
formed in a shape depending on a curvature of the roller 12. The lubricant applicator
M1a may move the roller 12 in a direction of getting the roller 12 away from the
surface of the rope groove 13 (upward direction in FIGS. 5A and 5B) along the
elongated hole 21 of the roller position adjusting mechanism M2 to increase the gap
between the roller 12 and the cylinder 9, resulting in the increasing application
amount of the lubricant 10 per rotation of the roller 12 depending on the running
condition.
[0064]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1a according to the embodiment 2,
similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment 1, is able to
keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1a is able to adjust the position of the roller 12
in the direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove 13,
unlike the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment 1. Furthermore, the
lubricant applicator M1a is able to increase the application amount of the lubricant
10 per rotation of the roller 12 depending on the running condition.
[0065]

21
The embodiment 3 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1b
having a contact force adjusting mechanism M3 for adjusting the contact force of the
roller 12 against the rope groove 13. The above-described roller position adjusting
mechanism M2 used in the embodiment 2 is a passively controlled mechanism that is
operated not by electricity but by the impelling force of the spring. In contrast, the
contact force adjusting mechanism M3 used in the present embodiment 3 is an
actively controlled mechanism that is operated by electricity.
[0066]
Now, referring to FIG. 7, a description is made of a configuration of the lubricant
applicator M1b according to the present embodiment 3. FIG. 7 is a schematic
configuration diagram of the lubricant applicator M1b.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 7, the lubricant applicator M1b according to the present
embodiment 3 is found to be different from the lubricant applicator M1 according to
the embodiment 1 (refer to FIGS. 3 and 4) in that the lubricant applicator M1b is
provided with a contact force adjusting mechanism M3.
[0068]
The contact force adjusting mechanism M3 is a mechanism for adjusting the
contact force of the roller 12 against the rope groove 13. In the present embodiment 3,
the contact force adjusting mechanism M3 is described on the assumption that it is
built into the support member 14. The contact force adjusting mechanism M3 is
provided with an actuator 15, which is a driving unit for reciprocating the cylinder 9
and the roller 12 in the direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the
rope groove 13 (direction of an arrow A5).
[0069]
As described above, the application amount of the lubricant 10 is able to be
arbitrarily determined by adjusting a gap between the cylinder 9 and the roller 12.
22
Therefore, the lubricant applicator M1b is able to adjust the application amount of
the lubricant 10 by controlling the gap between the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 using
the contact force adjusting mechanism M3. Such a lubricant applicator M1b is able to
apply the lubricant 10 on the surface of the rope groove 13 at an arbitrary speed and
amount.
[0070]
Note that the lubricant applicator M1b, in addition to the contact force adjusting
mechanism M3, may be configured to have the roller position adjusting mechanism
M2 according to the embodiment 2. In this case, the lubricant applicator M1b is able
to move the roller 12 to, for example, a position completely away from the surface of
the rope groove 13 using the contact force adjusting mechanism M3. At that time, the
lubricant applicator M1b is able to press the roller 12 to the cylinder 9 using the roller
position adjusting mechanism M2, which makes little the gap between the roller 12
and the cylinder 9. The lubricant applicator M1b having such a configuration is able
to switch between a state of applying some of the lubricant 10 on the rope groove 13
and a state of applying none, as well as to adjust the application amount of the
lubricant 10 using the contact force adjusting mechanism M3 and the roller position
adjusting mechanism M2.
[0071]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1b according to the present
embodiment 3, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment
1, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than a
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1b is able to apply the lubricant 10 on the
surface of the rope groove 13 at an arbitrary speed and amount, unlike the lubricant
applicator M1 according to the embodiment 1.
[0072]
23

An embodiment 4 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1c
having a pressuring mechanism M4 for applying a pressure on the lubricant 10 stored
in the cylinder 9 in a direction toward the roller 12.
[0073]
Now, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a description is made on a configuration of the
lubricant applicator M1c according to the present embodiment 4. FIG. 8 is a
schematic configuration diagram of the lubricant applicator M1c according to the
embodiment 4.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the elevator E1 provided with the lubricant
applicator M1c.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 8, the lubricant applicator M1c according to the present
embodiment 4 is different from the lubricant applicator M1 according to the
embodiment 1 in that the lubricant applicator M1c has a pressuring mechanism M4.
[0075]
In the present embodiment 4, the pressuring mechanism M4 includes an outer lid
16, a coil spring 17, and an inner lid 18.
The coil spring 17 is an impelling member for impelling the lubricant 10 through
the medium of the inner lid 18. The coil spring 17 is disposed in a state of being
compressed between the outer lid 16 and the inner lid 18. The coil spring 17 impels
the inner lid 18 toward the roller 12 (in a direction of an arrow A6), because the outer
lid 16 is fixed to the cylinder 9.
The inner lid 18 is a member for dividing the interior of the cylinder 9 into a space
filled with the lubricant 10 and a space containing air. The inner lid 18 is disposed
inside the cylinder 9 so as to be movable in a direction of getting closer and farther
away with respect to the roller 12.
24
[0076]
The lubricant applicator M1c continuously applies a pressure against the
lubricant 10 stored in the cylinder 9 in the direction of the roller 12 (the direction of
the arrow A6). Such a lubricant applicator M1c is able to push the lubricant 10
toward the outside of the cylinder 9 without directing the roller 12 in a downward
direction (i.e., without disposing the roller 12 below the cylinder 9). Therefore, the
lubricant applicator M1c may be installed without disposing the roller 12 in the
downward direction.
[0077]
Consequently, the lubricant applicator M1c is able to be installed, for example, as
shown in FIG. 9, directly below the top pulley 6, having the roller 12 in an upward
direction (i.e., with the roller 12 disposed above the cylinder 9). The lubricant
applicator M1c is able to continuously apply the lubricant 10 on the surface of the
rope groove 13 even if the roller 12 is disposed in the upward direction as described
above. Such a lubricant applicator M1c is able to increase a selection range of an
installable place.
[0078]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in a case of arranging the lubricant applicators M1c
around the sheave 3 and two of the top pulleys 6, the lubricant 10 may be applied on a
range of 80 percent of the sliding area of the wire rope 4. Therefore, the lubricant
applicator M1c allows enlarging the area of the wire rope 4 on which the lubricant 10
may be applied.
[0079]
In the present embodiment 4, a shaft hole into which the rotary shaft 11 is
inserted is formed as an elongated hole 21 extending toward the rope groove 13.
Therefore, the lubricant applicator M1c, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1a
according to the embodiment 2, is able to adjust the position of the roller 12 in the
25
direction of getting closer and farther away with respect to the rope groove 13. Note
that the lubricant applicator M1c, unlike the lubricant applicator M1a according to
the embodiment 2, does not have the impelling member 22. However, the lubricant
applicator M1c has a coil spring 17, and therefore, is able to apply the impelling force
of the coil spring 17 on the roller 12 through the medium of the inner cover 18 and the
lubricant 10, resulting in a capability of pressing the roller 12 to the rope groove 13.
[0080]
The present embodiment 4 employs the coil spring 17 as a means for applying a
pressure on the lubricant 10. However, a means for applying the pressure is not
limited to any particular one, and may be chosen among various means which are
able to continuously impel the inner lid 18 toward the roller 12. For example,
compressed air, an elastic body such as a rubber, or the like may be used for the
means for applying a pressure instead of the coil spring 17.
[0081]
Further, the lubricant applicator M1c, in addition to the pressuring mechanism
M4, may be configured to have a contact force adjusting mechanism M3 according to
the embodiment 2. In this case, the lubricant applicator M1c is able to move the roller
12, for example, to a position completely away from the surface of the rope groove 13
using the contact force adjusting mechanism M3. At that time, the lubricant 10 is
subjected to a pressure in the direction toward the roller 12 exerted by the pressuring
mechanism M4. Therefore, the roller 12 is subjected to a pressure in the direction
toward the rope groove 13 exerted through the lubricant 10. Accordingly, the
lubricant applicator M1c is able to press the roller 12 to the cylinder 9 using the
pressuring mechanism M4. Then, there is little gap between the roller 12 and the
cylinder 9. Note that when the lubricant applicator M1c strongly presses the roller 12
to the rope grooves 13 using the contact force adjusting mechanism M3, the roller 12
is pushed into the cylinder 9. On the other hand, note that when the lubricant
26
applicator M1c weakly presses the roller 12 to the rope grooves 13 using the contact
force adjusting mechanism M3, the roller 12 returns to an original position due to the
pressure applied through the lubricant 10. Therefore, the lubricant applicator M1c
having such a configuration is able to switch between a state of applying some of the
lubricant 10 on the rope groove 13 and a state of applying none, as well as to adjust
the application amount of the lubricant 10 using the contact force adjusting
mechanism M3 and the pressuring mechanism M4.
[0082]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1c according to the present
embodiment 4, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment
1, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than a
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1c is able to increase a selection range of the
installable place, compared with the lubricant applicator M1 according to the
embodiment 1.
[0083]

An embodiment 5 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1d
having a rope groove cleaning mechanism M5 for cleaning the rope groove 13.
[0084]
Referring to FIG. 10, a description is made of a configuration of the lubricant
applicator M1d according to the present embodiment 5. FIG. 10 is a schematic
configuration diagram of the lubricant applicator M1d.
[0085]
As shown in FIG. 10, the lubricant applicator M1d according to the present
embodiment 5 is found to be different from the lubricant applicator M1 according to
27
the embodiment 1 in that the lubricant applicator M1d has a rope groove cleaning
mechanism M5.
[0086]
The rope groove cleaning mechanism M5 is a mechanism configured to clean the
rope groove 13. The rope groove cleaning mechanism M5 includes an elastic member
51. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the elastic members 51 are disposed on two
lateral side surfaces of the cylinder 9 that are parallel to the peripheral surface of the
roller 12. One end of the elastic member 51 is fixed to the lateral side surface of the
cylinder 9 by a screw or the like (not shown). And, the other end of the elastic member
51 is curved extending outward from the lateral side surface of the cylinder 9 along a
direction in which the rope groove 13 is formed.
[0087]
A material of the elastic member 51 is preferably a resin material that has good
formability, elasticity, and excellent oil resistance. In addition, too hard elastic
member 51 could damage the surface of the rope groove 13, and therefore, a hardness
of the elastic member 51 is set less than a hardness of the surface of the rope groove
13. In yet addition, too soft elastic member 51 is easy to abrade, and therefore, the
elastic member 51 is preferably made from a material that hardly becomes an
obstacle to the running of the elevator E1 even if abraded. Accordingly, a specific
material of the elastic member 51 to be used is preferably a fluorocarbon resin such as
PTFE resin.
[0088]
In the above-described configuration, the lubricant applicator M1d operates as
described below.
If the lubricant applicator M1d continues to apply the lubricant 10 on the surface
of the rope groove 13 accompanying the running of the elevator E1 without cleaning
28
the rope grooves 13, the lubricant 10 is gradually accumulated on the surface of the
rope groove 13 and on a boundary between the rope grooves 13 of the roller 12.
[0089]
If the elevator E1 continues to run in the state in which the lubricant 10 is
accumulated, it causes, for example, dusts inside the elevator shaft 8 to adhere to the
lubricant 10 and then to solidify, or superfluous lubricant 10 to scatter inside the
elevator shaft 8, resulting in deterioration of the usage environment of the elevator
E1.
[0090]
In order to solve the above problem, in the lubricant applicator M1d according to
the present embodiment 5, when the sheave 3 is rotated in a direction of an arrow A2
being accompanied by the rotation of the roller 12 in the direction of an arrow A3, the
elastic member 51 of the rope groove cleaning mechanism M5 scrapes the superfluous
lubricant 10 from the surface of the rope groove 13 to clean the rope groove 13.
Thereby, the lubricant applicator M1d is able to apply the lubricant 10 on an always
clean surface.
[0091]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1d according to the present
embodiment 5, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment
1, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1d, unlike the lubricant applicator M1
according to the embodiment 1, is able to apply the lubricant 10 on the always clean
surface by cleaning the rope groove 13.
[0092]

29
An embodiment 6 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1e
having a rocking mechanism M6 for rocking the rope groove cleaning mechanism M5
in addition to the rope groove cleaning mechanism M5 according to the embodiment
5.
[0093]
Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, a description is given of a configuration of the
lubricant applicator M1e according to the present embodiment 6. FIGS. 11A and 11B
are schematic configuration diagrams of the lubricant applicator M1e. FIG. 11A
shows a state in which the rocking mechanism M6 does not rock the rope groove
cleaning mechanism M5, and FIG. 11B shows a state in which the rocking
mechanism M6 rocks the rope groove cleaning mechanism M5.
[0094]
As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the lubricant applicator M1e according to the
present embodiment 6 is different from the lubricant applicator M1d according to the
embodiment 5 (refer to FIG. 10) in that the lubricant applicator M1e has a rocking
mechanism M6, and that the two elastic members 51 of the rope groove cleaning
mechanism M5 are formed shorter than those of the embodiment 5.
[0095]
The rocking mechanism M6 is a mechanism that rocks the whole of the lubricant
applicator M1e (in particular, the rope groove cleaning mechanism M5). The rocking
mechanism M6 has a rotation fulcrum in the outer lid 16, and rocks the entire
lubricant applicator M1e around the rotation fulcrum in a direction of the arrow A7.
[0096]
Note that the rocking mechanism M6 is not limited to such a configuration. The
rocking mechanism M6 may be configured to have components, for example, a doubly
supported beam-shaped shaft, a bearing, a support member supporting them, and the
like; and then each of the components may be arbitrarily selected. Further, a material
30
constituting each of the components is not limited to a particular one, and is preferred
to be a metal material such as steel from a viewpoint of strength and durability.
[0097]
The rocking mechanism M6 acts so that the lubricant applicator M1e inclines in
response to traveling of the rope groove 13, and also serves as a mechanism for
limiting the rocking angle. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the rocking
mechanism M6, when the sheave 3 is rotated and the rope groove 13 travels in a
direction of an arrow A2a, rocks and tilts the lubricant applicator M1e by a
predetermined rocking angle in a direction of an arrow A7a.
[0098]
In the present embodiment 6, the two elastic members 51 of the rope groove
cleaning mechanism M5 are formed shorter than those of the embodiment 5, and
therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the lubricant applicator M1e is not inclined,
the two elastic members 51 are both spaced apart from the surface of the rope groove
13, and thus, the two elastic members 51 both are in a non-contact state with the rope
groove 13.
[0099]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the lubricant applicator M1e is
inclined by a predetermined rocking angle in the direction of the arrow A7a, the
elastic member 51 disposed rearward in the traveling direction of the rope groove 13
(in the example shown in FIG. 11B, the right side of the roller 12) comes in contact
with the rope groove 13.
[0100]
In this case, the lubricant applicator M1e makes the elastic member 51 scrape off
the superfluous lubricant 10 that accumulates on the rear side in the traveling
direction of the rope groove 13 (in the example shown in FIG. 11B, the right side of
the roller 12) to clean the rope groove 13. And then, the lubricant applicator M1e,
31
after cleaning the rope grooves 13, rotates the roller 12 in a direction of an arrow A3a
to apply the lubricant 10 on the clean surface.
[0101]
Note that the elastic member 51 disposed in the front side in the traveling
direction of the rope groove 13 (in the example shown in FIG. 11B, the left side of the
roller 12) is spaced from the surface of the rope groove 13 because the lubricant
applicator M1e is inclined to rotate in the direction of the arrow A7a. Therefore, the
lubricant applicator M1e never scrapes off the lubricant 10 applied immediately
before.
[0102]
In the above-described configuration, the lubricant applicator M1e has the
configuration of scraping the superfluous lubricant 10 accumulated only on the rear
side in the traveling direction of the rope groove 13 (in the example shown in FIG.
11B, the right side of the roller 12). Such a lubricant applicator M1e never scrapes
more than necessary lubricant 10, and thus is able to suppress the wire rope 4 and
the sheave 3 from being increased in abrasion and decreased in traction at their
contact surface, and further to apply the lubricant 10 on the clean surface more
efficiently than the lubricant applicator M1d according to the embodiment 5.
[0103]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1e according to the present
embodiment 6, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1d according to the embodiment
5, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the above-described lubricant applicator M1e never scrapes more than
necessary lubricant 10, and thus is able to suppress the wire rope 4 and the sheave 3
from being increased in abrasion and decreased in traction at their contact surface,
32
and further to apply the lubricant 10 on the clean surface more efficiently than the
lubricant applicator M1d according to the embodiment 5.
[0104]

An embodiment 7 of the present invention presents a lubricant applicator M1f
having a heating mechanism M7 for heating the lubricant 10.
[0105]
Now, referring to FIG. 12, a description is made of a configuration of the lubricant
applicator M1f according to the present embodiment 7. FIG. 12 is a schematic
configuration diagram of the lubricant applicator M1f.
[0106]
As shown in FIG. 12, the lubricant applicator M1f according to the present
embodiment 7 is different from the lubricant applicator M1 according to the
embodiment 1 in that the lubricant applicator M1f has the heating mechanism M7.
[0107]
The heating mechanism M7 is a mechanism for heating the lubricant 10. The
heating mechanism M7 is provided in either or both of the cylinder 9 and the roller 12.
The lubricant applicator M1f is able to adjust the consistency or viscosity of the
lubricant 10 so as to easily apply the lubricant 10 by heating the lubricant 10 inside
the cylinder 9 using the heating mechanism M7.
[0108]
The heating mechanism M7 may not be limited to any particular configuration
and use various known means if the means is able to uniformly heat the lubricant 10
inside the cylinder 9 and needs no use of fire. Specifically, the heating mechanism M7
may use a ceramic heater, a heating wire, or the like.
[0109]
33
A heating temperature is set differently according to a type of the lubricant 10.
For example, if the lubricant 10 is paraffinic wax grease, a softening temperature of
the grease is in a range of 40 to 90 degrees Celsius. Therefore, in this case, the
heating temperature is preferably set in the range of 40 to 90 degrees Celsius.
[0110]
The above-described lubricant applicator M1f may be used, for example, in cold
climates where heating the lubricant 10 by the heating mechanism M7 enables
adjusting the temperature of the lubricant 10 to the temperature which allows for
applying the lubricant 10, if the consistency of the grease used for the lubricant 10
(viscosity in a case of rope oil) falls down below a lower limit of a preferred consistency
for the lubricant applicator M1f (upper limit of the viscosity in the case of rope oil).
Accordingly, the lubricant applicator M1f may efficiently apply the lubricant 10 in a
wide range of temperature environment including the cold climates.
[0111]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1f according to the present
embodiment 7, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment
1, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1f is able to efficiently apply the lubricant 10
in a wide range of temperature environment including the cold climates, as compared
to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment 1.
[0112]

The above- described lubricant applicators M1 to M1f according to the
embodiments 1 to 7 have a configuration in which the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 are
integrated. However, the lubricant applicators M1 to M1f may have a configuration in
which the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 are separated.
34
The present embodiment 8 presents a lubricant applicator M1g that has a
configuration in which the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 are separated.
[0113]
Now, referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, a description is made of a configuration of
the lubricant applicator M1g according to the present embodiment 8. FIGS. 13A and
13B are explanatory views of the lubricant applicator M1g. FIG. 13A shows a
configuration of the lubricant applicator M1g, and FIG. 13B schematically shows a
configuration of the elevator E1 provided with the lubricant applicator M1g.
[0114]
As shown in FIG. 13A, the lubricant applicator M1g according to the present
embodiment 8 is different from the lubricant applicator M1 according to the
embodiment 1, in that the lubricant applicator M1g is configured to have the cylinder
9 and the roller 12 separated, and that the lubricant applicator M1g is provided with
a roller housing part 71 adapted to accommodate the roller 12 and a support member
72 adapted to support the roller housing part 71, a pump 73 in the cylinder 9, and a
tube 74 connecting the cylinder 9 with the roller 12.
[0115]
In the above-described configuration, the roller 12 is housed in the roller housing
part 71, and the roller housing part 71 is supported by the supporting member 72.
The lubricant applicator M1g pressurizes the lubricant 10 stored in the cylinder 9
using a pump 73 to supply the lubricant 10 from the cylinder 9 through the tube 74 to
the roller 12.
[0116]
The lubricant applicator M1g has the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 separated from
each other. Therefore, the lubricant applicator M1g may have a compacted part
around the roller 12. Such a lubricant applicator M1g is relatively easy to install at,
for example, a place where the installation space is difficult to ensure , such as a place
35
around the under-cage pulley 5 and the counterweight pulley 7 and the like, as shown
in FIG. 13B.
[0117]
As described above, the lubricant applicator M1g according to the present
embodiment 8, similarly to the lubricant applicator M1 according to the embodiment
1, is able to keep the oil film formed on the surface of the wire rope 4 thicker than the
predetermined thickness for a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant applicator M1g is relatively easy to install at a place where
the installation space is difficult to ensure the installation space, unlike the lubricant
applicator M1 according to the embodiment 1.
[0118]
The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments but
includes various modifications. For example, embodiments of the present invention
are not necessarily intended to be limited to those which include all of the elements
described above because the above-described embodiments are explained in detail for
the purpose of better understanding of the present invention. In addition, a certain
part of configuration elements of one of the above-described embodiments may be
replaced by a part of configuration elements of another one of the above-described
embodiments. In yet addition, a part of configuration elements of each of the
above-described embodiments may be added, deleted, or replaced with a part of a
configuration element of another one of the above-described embodiments.
[0119]
Further, for another example, the shape of the cylinder 9 and the roller 12 may be
changed appropriately as needed.
For yet another example, the elevators E1 may have an additional pulley for
installing an additional lubricant applicator M1 disposed inside the elevator shaft 8
36
and make the wire rope 4 and the roller 12 of this additional lubricant applicator M1
contact with a rope groove 13 formed on the additional pulley.
[0120]
Furthermore, for yet another example, the lubricant applicators M1 to M1g
according to the above-described embodiments 1 to 8 may be configured to be a
transportable device. In this case, the lubricant applicators M1 to M1g are not fixed
inside the elevator shaft 8, but brought from the outside of the elevator shaft 8 and
mounted on arbitrary positions inside the elevator shaft 8 only in maintenance.
[Reference Signs List]
[0121]
1: cage
2: counterweight
3: sheave (lubricant application target)
4: wire rope
5: under-cage pulley (lubricant application target)
6: top pulley (lubricant application target)
7: counterweight pulley (lubricant application target)
8: elevator shaft
9: cylinder
10: lubricant (grease, rope oil, or the like)
11: rotary shaft
12: roller
13: rope groove
14: support member
15: actuator
16: outer lid
17: coil spring
37
18: inner lid
19: hoist
21: elongated hole
22: impelling member
51: elastic member
71: roller housing part
72: support member
73: pump
74: tube
E1: elevator
M1, M1a, M1b, M1c, M1d, M1e, M1f, M1g: lubricant applicator
M2: roller position adjusting mechanism
M3: contact force adjusting mechanism
M4: pressuring mechanism
M5: rope groove cleaning mechanism
M6: rocking mechanism
M7: heating mechanism
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[CLAIMS]
We Claim:
1. A lubricant applicator comprising:
a cylinder configured to store lubricant including grease, rope oil, or the like; and
a roller configured to have at least either of a sheave and a pulley as an
application target of the lubricant, the roller being configured to contact with a
surface of a rope groove formed on the application target, wherein
the roller is configured to rotate accompanying a rotation or a movement of the
application target in a state in which the roller has attached to a surface of the roller
the lubricant stored in the cylinder and thereby to transfer the lubricant onto the
surface of the rope groove, to apply the lubricant on the surface of the rope groove.
2. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1,
wherein
a cross-sectional shape in a vicinity of an outer periphery of the roller viewed
when the roller is cut in a radial direction of the roller, matches a cross-sectional
shape of the rope groove viewed when the application target is cut in a radial
direction of the rope groove.
3. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the roller is provided so as to be rotatable in a vicinity of an end portion of the
cylinder.
4. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
further comprising
a roller position adjusting mechanism configured
to hold the roller so that the roller reciprocates in a direction of getting closer and
farther away with respect to the rope groove, and
to restrict a reciprocation distance of the roller.
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5. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
further comprising a contact force adjusting mechanism configured:
to hold the roller so that the roller reciprocates in a direction of getting closer and
farther away with respect to the rope groove; and
to adjust a contact force of the roller against the rope groove.
6. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
further comprising a pressuring mechanism configured
to apply a pressure on the lubricant stored in the cylinder in a direction toward
the roller.
7. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
further comprising a rope groove cleaning mechanism configured to clean the rope
groove,
the rope groove cleaning mechanism configured to:
include an elastic member having an end portion arranged along a
circumferential direction in which the rope groove is formed, and
clean the rope groove by making the end portion of the elastic member contact
with the surface of the rope groove.
8. The lubricant applicator according to claim 7,
wherein
the rope groove cleaning mechanism further comprises a rocking mechanism
configured to follow a rotation or movement of the application target and to rock the
elastic member,
wherein
the elastic member is in:
a non-contact state with the surface of the rope groove when the rocking
mechanism generates no rock of the rope groove cleaning mechanism; and
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a contact state with the surface of the rope groove when the rocking mechanism
generates a rock of the rope groove cleaning mechanism.
9. The lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
further comprising a heating mechanism in either or both of the cylinder and the
roller, the heating mechanism configured to heat the lubricant.
10. The lubricant applicator according to claim 1,
further comprising a pump configured to send out the lubricant,
the roller being disposed away from the cylinder and connected through a tube to
the cylinder; and
the pump sending out the lubricant from the cylinder through the tube to the
roller.
11. An elevator comprising:
the lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, configured to
have at least one of the sheave and the pulley as the lubricant application target,
and
be disposed around the rope groove formed on the application target;
a wire rope being put around the rope groove; and
a cage configured to be raised and lowered accompanying a rotation of the sheave.
12. A maintenance method of an elevator comprising a step of
using the lubricant applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10 configured to
have at least one of the sheave and the pulley as the application target of the
lubricant, to apply the lubricant on the wire rope being put around the rope groove
through a medium of the rope groove, thereby applying the lubricant on the surface of
the rope groove formed on the application target of the lubricant.